Your Library Card is a Passport to Online Inspiration

Posted on Posted in Wellness

By Joanne Dunmyre

While you are stuck at home and trying to find new ways to use your time productively, turn to the library for inspiration. With a library card from one of the Allegheny libraries, you can access the following resources. If you get stuck, email me (dunmyrej@gmail.com), and I’ll help you through the process. Also if you live in Allegheny County and you don’t have a library card, you can get one through Carnegie Library by clicking here. Scroll down and look for “Can I get a library card during the closure? then click on the link. The reason this information is geared more toward the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is that I work there and I’m more familiar with our process than that of other county libraries. But I can help you either way.

Libby (or Overdrive, same thing) gives you access to tons of ebooks and eaudio books. Books are “checked out” on your device just like you would check out a physical book from the library. However, once the checkout period is up, the book automatically returns so there are no late fees. Since the library purchases access to a given number of copies of any item, the books are not always available. You may need to request a title (or put it on hold, same thing) and wait for it to become available. The easiest way to access this resource is to download the Libby app on your phone or device, then be sure to select your library to access it with your card. (If you have the Overdrive app, it’s the same thing. However, the Libby app is easier to use.)

Hoopla is another option for not only ebooks but also movies and TV shows. The great thing about hoopla is that items are always available, no waiting. The down side is that they’re aren’t as many book titles in hoopla as Libby, and there is a limit to how many items you can borrow in a month. (For the Carnegie Library, it’s 9. I’m not positive if that number holds true for the other libraries in Allegheny County). Download the hoopla app and set up a free account to get started.

Flipster allows you to read some of your favorite magazines. I believe this one is only available if you have a Carnegie Library card. Go to carnegielibrary.org, type Flipster in the search box, make sure the circle is filled in for This Site and not Catalog, then hit enter. You will see a link for logging into Flipster.

Unleash your creativity with Creativebug. With a library card, you can start taking crafting classes right in your home! Log in through whichever Allegheny County library you use. Here’s the link to access via the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and here for Northland Library.

Are you interested in genealogy? You can now access the library edition of Ancestry.com from home.  Normally, Ancestry.com is only available for in-library use, but it’s been temporarily expanded to use at home, courtesy of ProQuest and its partner Ancestry, until April 30. Here’s a post that explains how to access it via the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. You can access it via Northland Library here as well.

Would you like to learn another language? Try Mango Languages through the library by clicking here. 

Visit this link for additional eresources and tutorials:  https://www.carnegielibrary.org/eresource-tutorial-videos/.

Joanne is an elder who previously served on Session and currently serves on our Heritage Wellness Team and MFC Team. She is also a librarian at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and is an independent Travel Designer with My Travel Elf.